Mexico responds to Tariffs: Trade War

Mexico City. Mexico will respond with tariff and non-tariff measures to the “unilateral” imposition of tariffs imposed by Donald Trump on our country’s exports, said President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.

Notes:  Presidente Claudia has an approval rating of 80%.  Her approval rating rivals or exceeds that of President Putin.   She carries her nation with her.  We can also take it that this was thoroughly discussed with the Chinese embassy in Mexico, as much business is done with China.  Other countries in the Latin American region are up to date, as Presidente Claudia understands clearly that Mexico is but first on the list.  Take note of this short piece on the Trade War that has started, posted this morning:  Do you see it? Denial Strategy

Presidente Claudia rejected the “offensive, defamatory and unsubstantiated” statement issued last night by the White House, which made statements “that we categorically deny and categorically condemn.”

The President opened her daily report this Tuesday morning with the reading of a communiqué in which she set her administration’s position before the measures of her U.S. counterpart.  Over the past month, she has repeated this slogan:

cooperation and coordination, yes;

subordination, interventionism, no.

She demanded Washington assume responsibility regarding the consumption crisis faced by his country and its citizens, as well as fight the criminal groups that operate in U.S. territory and “poison” its citizens with the illegal sale and distribution within its borders.

Presidente Claudia holds the moral high ground without pulling punches or trading insults. The empire wants to bring their previous ‘backyard’ countries back to the backyard, but as we know from the process of multipolarity, other points of strength have developed.

“I have decided to respond with tariff and non-tariff measures that I will announce in the public square next Sunday.

Following are the main points of the statement:

“Yesterday the U.S. government after 30 days of pause, unilaterally decided to impose 25 percent tariffs on exports from Mexico, despite the trade agreement signed by President Trump himself in his first term and the fact that during this period of time in these 30 days forceful actions were developed against organized crime and fentanyl trafficking, as well as bilateral security and trade meetings, which reached substantive cooperation agreements between the two countries.

“Last night, the White House published an offensive, defamatory, and unsubstantiated statement about the Mexican government, which we strongly deny and categorically condemn.

(This is the statement:

• • In addition, the Mexican drug trafficking organizations have an intolerable alliance with the government of Mexico. The government of Mexico has afforded safe havens for the cartels to engage in the manufacturing and transportation of dangerous narcotics, which collectively have led to the overdose deaths of hundreds of thousands of American victims. This alliance endangers the national security of the United States, and we must eradicate the influence of these dangerous cartels.

• • There is also a growing presence of Mexican cartels operating fentanyl and nitazene synthesis labs in Canada.  A recent study recognized Canada’s heightened domestic production of fentanyl, and its growing footprint within international narcotics distribution).

“Since the government I represent began on October 1, 2024, we have worked and delivered results in the area of security; for example, in the case of fentanyl trafficking, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) own figures show that fentanyl seizures in the United States from Mexico were reduced by 50 percent from October 2024 to January 2025.

“Other results in these five months of government are as follows: the seizure of 6,998 firearms, 75 percent of which came from the United States, and 121.4 tons of drugs, including 1,260 kilograms and 1,332,126 fentanyl pills.

“A total of 329 clandestine laboratories for the processing of methamphetamines have been dismantled, and a historic 26.4 tons of cocaine have been seized in maritime operations. A total of 13,858 people were arrested for high-impact crimes and 29 people deprived of their liberty, accused of serious crimes related to violence and drug trafficking, were recently transferred to the United States, for the benefit of the security of both countries, resulting in a 15 percent reduction in intentional homicides in our country between October 2024 and February 2025.

“For this reason, we are emphatic. There is no motive, reason or justification that supports this decision that will affect our peoples and nations. We have said it in different ways:

cooperation and coordination, YES.

subordination, intervention, and the use of force, NO.

“For humanitarian reasons, we collaborate to prevent the trafficking of illegal drugs to the United States, but as we have stated on many occasions, the government of that country must also take charge of the opioid consumption crisis that has caused so many deaths in the United States. It is a profound public health problem that they must address.

They must also act against the criminal groups that illegally smuggle fentanyl precursors through their ports and airports, as well as the crime that illegally produces, distributes and sells fentanyl and other drugs, in their territory, poisoning their people.

CPB data from 2024 released by the Cato Institute in Washington reveals that 80 percent of those arrested at U.S. ports of entry for fentanyl trafficking between 2019 and 2024, were U.S. citizens, even the U.S. Sentencing Commission reports that 81.9 percent of those prosecuted for drug trafficking are U.S. nationals.

On the other hand, on January 8 of this year, the U.S. Department of Justice recognized the serious problem of arms trafficking from the United States to Mexico, 74 percent of the high-powered weapons seized in Mexico come illegally from the United States.

It is time for each country to assume our commitment. In the United States, the opioid crisis that has erupted began with the FDA’s irresponsible approval of drugs. A lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company in its own country showed that the approval of the first opioid drug that was massively sold and promoted was based on altered information for the FDA’s own approval.

Coordination between both nations is necessary to address the phenomenon of violence and drug trafficking but always based on respect.

I want to make it clear today, that we will always seek a negotiated solution, as we have proposed, within the framework of respect for our sovereignty. But the unilateral decision taken by the United States affects national and foreign companies operating in our country and affects our people. That is why we have decided to respond with tariff and non-tariff measures that I will announce in a public square next Sunday.

(Make no mistake here:  she is calling on the unity of the Mexican people and is bringing them together on the Zocalo, the main square in Mexico City where all serious decisions are made involving Mexicans, citizens and country.)

It is in no way or purpose to initiate an economic or commercial confrontation, which unfortunately and regrettably is the opposite of what we should be doing. That is, to further integrate our economies to strengthen our region in the face of the economic and commercial advances of other regions.

But it is inconceivable that we do not consider the damage that will be caused to citizens and companies in the United States due to the increase in the prices of goods produced in our country, as well as the damage that will be caused by stopping the creation of jobs in both countries. No one wins with this decision; on the contrary, it affects the people we represent.

I would like to remind Mexicans that for the past six years, we have based our growth on strengthening the domestic market, creating jobs through public investment, increasing the minimum wage, and improving Welfare Programs. In addition, we recently presented the Mexico Plan to strengthen investment in the domestic market.

In the unfortunate times of sadness and desolation caused by the pandemic, we were able to get up when the economy fell, as it had never happened in the country’s modern history. In two years, we got back on our feet. We have a strong economy and, above all, empowered, conscious people who have become the main political force.

We will continue to seek dialogue to find an alternative with arguments and rationality.

I call on the people of Mexico, all of us, to face this challenge together and remain united. I reiterate that it is time to defend Mexico and its sovereignty. We must be attentive and calm, with a cool head; our people and our blessed nation are very strong and powerful.

Final Comment:  This trade war is unadulterated blackmail from the hegemon.  They say that companies could come and trade in the US to avoid tariffs.